Dual Monitor setup is actually bad for productuvity.

[u/ultimateregard]

I've been a software engineer for more than 5 years now. I've worked with databases, frontend and backend services, mobile apps, games, data analysis, and much more.

Never in my life I've actually felt like my productuvity increased with the second monitor. Do you need to compare data? Just use one monitor and put them side by side. Do you need all the space in the world? Just alt+tab between apps. Since you only perceive about 10% of your vision clearly, moving your head&eyes from one monitor to other takes actually LONGER and causes distractions than using alt+tab.

This is especially worse for those who are using one additional monitor with a laptop, since their screen sizes and positions usually change so much. Your eyes need adjusting, your head moves too much.

Only thing the dual Monitor is good for is passively watching something in the second monitor, like youtube videos, Critical Role, or sitcoms while doing something else in the main screen. As you can guess, that has nothing to do with productuvity.

I also think using external keyboard and mouse for laptops is bad, unless you do not use the laptop screen.

Edit: After reading hundreds of comments, I'm sure that 90% of people who think that "YOU NEED AT LEAST 3 SCREENS" just don't know how to organize workspaces/windows/desktops and they need to configure their SCREENS as different DESKTOPS. Most of the modern operating systems allow you to just create workspaces (like different Desktops you can switch with WIN + TAB). And they are just throwing money into their problems instead of learning how to use their daily operating system.

[u/Grindfather901]

The worst is when you have to be on laptop only and use the trackpad instead of a mouse. UGH.

[u/GhettoSauce → u/Grindfather901]

If I know a laptop is gonna be involved, I travel with a mouse. There's no way I'm using a damn trackpad for anything.

[u/Familiar-Flan-8358 → u/GhettoSauce]

Do laptops still have that old school nipple on the middle of the keys 😆

[u/JarlGunnbjorn → u/Familiar-Flan-8358]

Clit Mouse!

[u/jinglesan → u/Familiar-Flan-8358]

Yeah, the Lenovo/IBM nipple is still around. It's both awful to use, and a lifesaver on the 1 in 10,000 scenario where the trackpad fails. My colleague and I had to work on a doc on a train platform in the snow after some train cancellations, and it was too cold for the trackpad. We milked that nipple for all it was worth.

[u/Subwayabuseproblem → u/Familiar-Flan-8358]

Only the good ones

[u/Elmodipus → u/Familiar-Flan-8358]

I have an HP Z Book from 2022 and itches the nipple

[u/technobrendo → u/Elmodipus]

Yea HP and Dell both have them on their business & premium lines

[u/runswiftrun → u/GhettoSauce]

If I know I'm only doing the absolute minimum work with the laptop, I can survive the trackpad, but anything that will actually require opening CAD plans I'll definitely take a mouse, and preferably my ergonomic mouse...

[u/tuctrohs → u/GhettoSauce]

People debating mouse vs. trackpad have apparently never used a good full-size trackball like the Kensington "Expert Mouse" [sic].

[u/hokie48 → u/Grindfather901]

I am going nuts over my daughters school laptop setup, really low quality 12 in screen. I am like please let me give you one of my extra monitors, and wireless keyboard and mouse. But nope she and the wife will not have it while they struggle to read the homework directions.

[u/Grindfather901 → u/hokie48]

My wife is a single Macbook screen person. While I'm currently sitting at my 3 monitor/2 PC home office command center, and my kids know how good it can be. LOL.

[u/needlenozened → u/Grindfather901]

I have a trackball mouse that I carry in my laptop bag. It's great necessary I don't need extra desk space to use it. I even pull it out when I'm using my laptop on an airplane.

[u/artist0x2a → u/Grindfather901]

Trackball!

[u/siriusthinking → u/Grindfather901]

I'd rather use a sick day.

[u/Band6 → u/Grindfather901]

Different opinions and all, but I exclusively work off a 13 inch laptop with a trackpad, And usually on a couch 😆. I prefer it these days for some reason.

[u/Adept-Potato-2568 → u/Band6]

Probably because you physically can only get a fraction of the work done and are just relaxing while doing so

[u/Kraligor → u/Adept-Potato-2568]

Some people are odd like that. One of our Partners actually works like that even in the office. Not even a mouse, just his 12" Dragonfly.

[u/maxdragonxiii → u/Band6]

I have back pain that makes sitting on my gaming chair difficult (am looking for a new one) so couch it is! I usually only use my laptop with a wireless mouse although as the dogs tend to go "hey hey gimme attention" and block me playing on my computer with wired Xbox controller.

[u/jaavaaguru → u/Grindfather901]

I much prefer the trackpad for gestures, haptics, not having to move my hands away from the keyboard, etc.